HVx200 Tape system at DVinfo.net

Alan Waters · November 4th, 2007, 10:24 AM

I am only put of buying one because of the horror stories of tape transport systems I have read elsewhere.

What makes this a sensible camera for me is the ability to still shoot DV until cards come down in price and HD really takes off.

Have any of you taken a lot of DV footage with the HVX200?
How many hours is the head system good for?

Heiko Saele · November 4th, 2007, 05:58 PM

One of our HVX at work has been used daily with DV tapes for quite a while now. It hasn't been treated too nicely, I can say that for sure (rough eng usage, often used by fairly unexperienced people, also with tapes re-used multiple times)
It has yet to show any problems other than a dirty head, which is normal for tape systems, and which went away after head cleaning. I'll see if I can look into the menu tomorrow and give you the exact number of hours.

Alan Waters · November 4th, 2007, 06:55 PM

Thanks very much for that Heiko.....you know yourself the dilema in trying to decide the best camera.

It is between the HVX and the EX1 for me.

the numbers would give a good indicator.

Heiko Saele · November 6th, 2007, 04:52 AM

Our oldest HVX200 has 1378 drum hours (in words: one thousand three hundred and seventy eight) and still no problems. As I said before, this is with rough treatment and tapes re-used over and over...

I just looked up the EX1 - it's a very nice camera... 1/2" chips, the lens seems to be pretty good (with a full manual focus mode and an iris wheel - wow!). But as far as I understand it, it won't shoot SD at all.

Alan Waters · November 6th, 2007, 09:28 AM

Thanks a lot for that info......really gives me a good comparison from which to choose.

November 4th, 2007, 10:24 AM	#1
Alan Waters Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Ireland Posts: 36	HVx200 Tape system I am only put of buying one because of the horror stories of tape transport systems I have read elsewhere. What makes this a sensible camera for me is the ability to still shoot DV until cards come down in price and HD really takes off. Have any of you taken a lot of DV footage with the HVX200? How many hours is the head system good for?

November 4th, 2007, 05:58 PM	#2
Heiko Saele Major Player Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Wurzburg, Germany Posts: 316	One of our HVX at work has been used daily with DV tapes for quite a while now. It hasn't been treated too nicely, I can say that for sure (rough eng usage, often used by fairly unexperienced people, also with tapes re-used multiple times) It has yet to show any problems other than a dirty head, which is normal for tape systems, and which went away after head cleaning. I'll see if I can look into the menu tomorrow and give you the exact number of hours.

November 4th, 2007, 06:55 PM	#3
Alan Waters Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Ireland Posts: 36	Thanks very much for that Heiko.....you know yourself the dilema in trying to decide the best camera. It is between the HVX and the EX1 for me. the numbers would give a good indicator.

November 6th, 2007, 04:52 AM	#4
Heiko Saele Major Player Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Wurzburg, Germany Posts: 316	Our oldest HVX200 has 1378 drum hours (in words: one thousand three hundred and seventy eight) and still no problems. As I said before, this is with rough treatment and tapes re-used over and over... I just looked up the EX1 - it's a very nice camera... 1/2" chips, the lens seems to be pretty good (with a full manual focus mode and an iris wheel - wow!). But as far as I understand it, it won't shoot SD at all.

November 6th, 2007, 09:28 AM	#5
Alan Waters Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Ireland Posts: 36	Thanks a lot for that info......really gives me a good comparison from which to choose.